Blue Jackets-Avalanche Preview

Associated Press

The Colorado Avalanche look to remain unbeaten in regulation against the Columbus Jackets when the teams meet for the third time this season on Tuesday.

Colorado has posted a pair of victories at Columbus this season to extend its win streak in the series to seven games since a 5-4 shootout loss on Feb. 28, 2004 - its only defeat in 22 all-time meetings. The Avs have 20 wins and a tie in the other contests, and have won all 10 matchups at home.

Columbus (7-16-2) is coming off a 4-0 win at Edmonton on Saturday that snapped a five-game losing streak on the road and improved the team to 3-9-0 away from home this season.

Colorado (12-12-2), meanwhile, lost for the second time in three games Saturday, 2-1 at Vancouver. The Avs also lost starting goaltender Jose Theodore to a hip flexor injury.

Theodore, who is listed as day-to-day, stopped all six shots he faced in the first period before being replaced by Peter Budaj to start the second.

"Hip flexor," said coach Joel Quenneville. "Similar to a groin pull."

Budaj lost four of his first six appearances this season, but has posted a 2.22 goals-against average in winning three of his last four starts. He was sharp early Saturday before allowing two power-play goals, and the Avs found the back of the net only once despite putting 41 shots on goal.

Colorado went 0-for-4 on the power play.

"We lost, we didn't get any point, what do you want to take out of it? That we had over 40 shots?" forward Ian Laperriere said. "Our special teams need to be better. You won't win games if your special teams are not strong."

Columbus has killed off 15 straight penalties over the last three games, including five in Saturday's victory over the Oilers. The Blue Jackets held their third straight opponent to fewer than three goals, as backup Fredrik Norrena made 21 saves to earn his second straight win and first career shutout.

"We were pretty upset after our last game," said Anson Carter, who was referring to Columbus' 2-1 loss at Calgary on Friday night. "We had a pretty solid road game but didn't play well enough to win. That's not good enough for us anymore."

Columbus' last three losses have come by one goal, and the team has one of the worst records in the league in one-goal games, going 2-6-2.

"We've been in one-goal games everywhere," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "This time we were on the right side of one. This team has a great spirit, and we fight and we battle."